HPM Sheikh Hasina and Palestine President discusses Rohingya issue

The two leaders discussed the issue at a meeting held at the hotel suite of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Grand Hyatt on Monday night.

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said Mahmoud Abbas apprised the prime minister of the present situation in Palestine. Sheikh Hasina reiterated Bangladesh's support for the cause of Palestine people.

The press secretary said the Palestine president highly lauded the gesture of Sheikh Hasina to Rohingyas saying "it's a disaster".

"Everybody everywhere is appreciating the Bangladesh prime minister for her humanitarian gesture," Ihsanul Karim quoted Mahmoud Abbas as saying.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said as a human being everybody should have a humanitarian virtue. She said 700,000 refugees are now living in Bangladesh under a makeshift arrangement.

"But, Myanmar must take back their nationals," the prime minister asserted. And in view of this, Bangladesh has called for mounting international pressure on Myanmar.

The prime minister informed the Palestine president of the relief works of the government to provide support to the Rohingyas.

Sheikh Hasina said she knows the pains of a refugee, because she and her sister were refugees for six years after the brutal killing of Bangabandhu in 1975.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is registering the Rohingyas for their identification.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, PM's Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque were present.